Just an Ohioan getting my Ohio on.

June 2012

June 19, 2012

At last weekend’s 31st annual Columbus Pride celebration, the air literally swirled with love. Signs read “God Loves Us All,” “I Support Love,” “Love Makes a Family,” and “Love Never Fails.” Around 230,000 people visited the Short North in honor of diversity and equality. The needle is moving in the right direction, but there’s still work to be done. During Saturday’s parade, I overheard a college student say that his father tried to discourage him from moving to Columbus because it was “too gay,” a woman who said that her parents would never march in a parade to support her being a lesbian, and a man who said that he suffered with severe depression as a teenager. When all of us have true universal acceptance to love whomever we choose, the comfort to live without fear, and equal legal rights — humanity will have taken one of its biggest strides. Click here for more photos.

June 12, 2012

New York doesn’t sleep because it’s bionic. No matter how many things you’d like to do or places you’d like to visit, it’s ready. I swung by Manhattan twice in the past couple of weeks and packed in a dizzying amount of activities. Here are some highlights.

The Book of MormonWe had the absurd fortune of seeing The Book of Mormon at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on Broadway. This satiric gem is eternally sold out for a reason: It pantsed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through wide-eyed innocence and historically accurate details, it spews piercing bits of truth about the derangement of organized religion. In your face, Mitt.

JBird CocktailsThe Upper East Side finally has a speakeasy-style establishment where Chuck Taylors outnumber popped collars and no one’s yammering about the Hamptons. My Honey-Nut Old Fashioned with roasted peanut bourbon was crackerjack, I say. Plus it has barkeeps who act like they’ve known you since middle school. Mildred Pierce would approve.

Central Park ZooMaybe I was inspired after recently seeing Madagascar, but after years of passing through it, I made time to actually walk around the Central Park Zoo. Its setup is more intimate than traditional zoos, which helps you feel more connected to the animals. The puffins were chummy and we saw a very stealthy snow leopard, but the sea lion show prevailed. They played Frisbee and everything.

Asia SocietyI can’t get enough of this museum. This time, we explored ink paintings by renowned artist Wu Guanzhong and watched a politically sparked three-channel video installation by Wang GongXin.

National Puerto Rican Day ParadeThe 55th annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade took place on Sunday along Fifth Avenue. Bursting with energy, color, history, and respect, it honors Puerto Rico’s four million inhabitants and the more than four million people of Puerto Rican heritage living in the United States.

Il Buco Alimentari e VineriaIf you like Italian food, as in tastes-like-you’re-in-Italy-while-you’re-eating-it-and-you-can-feel-the-Tuscan-breeze-on-your-face-and-everything-is-somehow-more-beautiful-than-in-real-life-and-how-do-people-get-to-live-in-Italy-anyway?-no-fair, this newish Bowery eatery is for you. The olive oil alone is worth the trek, but the house-made Ricotta, mint leaves, and chopped hazelnuts would make you convert to Mormonism. Almost.

June 01, 2012

The Short North Civic Association will launch the fourth season of Screen on the Green on July 20 with a screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. This will be the first of three outdoor movie nights held on a 30-foot screen at the softball diamond in the southwest corner of Goodale Park.

All movies begin atsundown and will be preceded by a half hour of classic cartoons. Each film will also feature themed contests and activities that encourage audience participation. Details about these fun interactive elements will be shared two weeks before each screening.

A variety of food trucks and carts will sell refreshments, as organized by Food Fort Columbus. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and flashlights. There are no rain dates.

Screen on the Green is free and open to the public. It’s made possible through organization and major funding by the Short North Civic Association, with additional funding by the Gateway Film Center and ComFest.